Automatic telephone switch system.



J. WICKS &D. D. MOKAY.

PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED AUG,30,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED APR. 30, 1907. J. WIOKS & D. D. McKAY.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH SYSTEM.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 30, 1905.

3 SHEETSSHBET 2.

(l'fforum No. 852,004. PATENTBD AFR. so, 1907.

s & D. I). MoKAY.

OMATIO TELE J. WIGK AUT PHONE SWITCH SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.30,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

(1440044 row Q 0" bx-wwc a 4 with which the usual wipers 3 and 4co-operinore particularly that type known as the JOLLY WiCliS AND DONALDD. MoKAY, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed August 30.1905. Serial No. 276,407

T all writ/ m it may concern: 1

Be it known that we, JonN'WIoKs and DONALD D. MCKAY, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Riverside, in the county of Riverside andState of California, have invented a new and useful Automatic TelephoneSwitch System, of which the following is aspeciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic tGll'lPllOllOexchangesystems, and

Stronger system.

The principal object is to provide novel means of a simple nature,whereby the automatic selecting or exchange mechanism will connectringing current-generating means to the diilerent lines and to thediii'crent wires of a party line so that either party on such line maybe called independently of the other.

,Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 being a diagrammatic View of one form, while, Fig. 2is a similar View of a modification thereof. 3 is a diagrammatic View ofthe form illustrated in big. 1., and showingone type of the Strowgersystem in greater detail, together. with the improvenicnt's associatedtherewith.

Both of said embodiments are intended for use with the Strowger system,well known to those skilled in the art, and, in order to avoid confusionand illustrate the mecham ism as simply as possible, all features ofsaid system not intimately associated with the present invention haveeither been eliminated or merely indicated. I g Referring first to theembodiment illus trated in Fig. 1, a portion of an. automatic sei ctoror exchange mechanism is shown, comprising first and second selectorswitches A and B, and a connector switch C. This latter includes banksof contacts 1 and 2,

ate. ()onnected to the connector switch C is a party line, which, asshown, comprises line I wires 5 and 6, in which the party instru l mentsD'and E are located, one of said in struments being designated, forexample, l 1201, the other 1202. Each instrument in- I eludes a signalbell, respectively designated 7 and 8, and it Will be noted that thesebells are l connected through the hooks 9 with the separate wires of theline, each being connected to one only of the, wires, and said bellsbeing grounded, as shown at 10; The line wires 5 q and .6 arerespectively connected'directly to l:

certain of the contacts 1 and 2, and besides, are respectively andreversely bridged by wires 11 and 12 to the adjacent contacts 2 and 1.The remaining contacts may be connected in thesame or any ordinarymanner to other line wires, as 13.

Connected to one of the wipers, as 3, by a wire 1+1 is a switch 15, thatis movable into and out of engagement with one pole 16 of a ringingcurrent generator 17, that is grounded, as shown at 18. The usualringing relay 19 is employed, which includes the armature 20, forthrowing the switch into and out of operation.

In the present embodiment, a calling station F is shown as connected bythe usual wires 7* and r through the selector switches A and D to theconnector 0, said station including the signal button 21, the contactfor which is grounded, as shown at 22. This button is in electricalconnection through the wire 1) and selector switches with a magnet 23,and battery 24, that is also grounded, as shown at 25. The armature 26of the mag net 23 constitutes a circuit-closing means for the ringingrelay 19. Assuming, therefore, that the station F has selected thestation D or 1201'to be called, the selecting mechanism is automaticallyoperated in the usual well known. manner, and the wipers 3 and 4.willstop upon the contacts 1 and 2, to which the line wires are directlyconnected, 'as shown in full lines, and this, therefore, connects theswitch 15 with the line wire 5, to which the signal of the station I) or1201 is connected. pressed, the circuit through the magnet 23 will beclosed, the ringing relay will be operated, and the switch 15 closed.This will cause the current from the generator 17 to pass through thewire l ifthe wiper 3, the party line wire 5, and hell 7, and thence toground, while the bell 8 of the other party is isolated. On the otherhand, if the station E or 1202 is called, the wipers 3 and 4 will assumethe positions indicated in dotted lines, in which case, the generatorswitch 15 will be in connection tlirough'the wiper 3, bridge w1re12, andline wire 6; wlth the bell 8 of station E, so that a call sent injfroinstaticn F will operate the said bell 8 at station E, while the otherparty signal is now cut out. The wipers are, of course, in like manner,movable to their other contacts and thus perform their usual functionswhile serving in connection with the bridge wire and con- Ii, now, thesignal button 21 is lOO .temnow in use.

tacts to effect independentconnections with. the party signals of asingle line. It will be observed that'the structure involves noinaterialchangeon the part ofthe apparatus, as a whole, and thatoneringing relay only is necessary, as heretofore, for each connectorswitch. Thus, practical means of a simple nature are provided forseparately calling each party of a line.

Inorder to more clearly explain. the arrangement above described, thesame is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3,, in connection with one formof the Strowger sys- No claim is of course made to the mechanism or thearrangement in- I volved in this Strowgei' system outside of itsassociationor combination generally with the novel signal mechanism, asabove set forth, and the more complete showing is made solely for thepurpose of making our improvements in the signaling mechanism and itsrelation to the general system more clear and more easily understood bythose skilled in the art. "As far as practicable, the

tion. The calling station-is designated generallyby the reference'letterF. On the firstselector A, there is the usual fourpole switch, known asthe side switch, each pole of which makes contact with three differentoints.

ered. 28, 29, and 31. The switch'is operated in a well known manner bymeans of the armature of the magne't32, commonly known as the privatemagnet. The line wipers of the first selector, designated 33, 34 and 35,areiastened together, and are moved in a vertical directionby'means of amagnet36i A rotary motion is'given to thewipers by a magnet 37. By thisvertical and rotary motionthe wi ers make contact with an one of onehundred linesterminating in'the banks associated therewith, as is wellknown.

It will be observed that the vertical line 1) .irom; the calling stationconnects with the switch 28 or' the first selector, the dotted lines ofsaid switch representing the normal position of the same. The line '0 istherefore connected through .the switch 28 with thewire 38 to the relay39, known as the vertical re lay. This relay is furthermore connectedthrough wire 40 to the spring 41 of the relay 42, commonly termed thecut out relay, and from the same spring 41, conne'ction is made withthe'main side of the battery 24 through the dotted linesl43; 'The.

rotary line 1*, tromthe calling station is con- These poles arerespectively num' nected through the ole 29 0f thefside switch by wire44 tothe re ay 45, known as the rotary relay, which connects with themain battery through the wire 46, the' springs of the .relay 42, and thewire. shown by the'dot- 7a ted lines 43. I

As is well known, the Strowger calling device is so arrahged that anumber of impulses corresponding to the number called is first givenover the verticalline 1), after which fol- 7 lows an impulse over therotary line'r. Thus for example, if five be called, the calling devicewill ground the vertical line *0 five times, at the ehdofgwhich a groundis given also to the rotary line r. Vhen now, an impulse is So given. tothevertical line 1), it passesthrough the dotted position of the sideswitch 28 and through line'38. Relay 39 thus being enerized,'will pulldown the armature 47 and orce the spring 48' to make contact, with thespring 49. The spring49, as shown, is connected directly with the groundside of the.

battery. The spring 48 on the other hand is connected to spring 50 ofthe private magnet 32, through which it makes contact with the 0spring51, and from thence through the ver tical magnet 36 with the mainside of the battery 24, through the wire .shown in dotted lines at 52.It is therefore clear that every impulse of the vertical line i; closesthe circuit of the vertical magnet36jcausingthe shaft to step up one postion in a manner "well; understood. Afterthe desired number of impulsesare given overthe vertical line, animpulse is also given. overthe rotaryliner. This Too passes through the dotted position'ofthe side switch '29tore'lay 45;..drawi'ngthe armature 53 of said relay downwardly. Thespring 5 4 isthereby forced against the-ground spring 1 49, and thisirnpulseepasses' through; wire 55- 10 to the private magnet .32,which'is-directly connected through 43 tothe mainside of the battery.When the armature 56 of the private ma net .32 is pulleddown, it breakscont'act of the springs 51 and 5Q,'thereby Opening the circuit of thevertical magnet 36.. At the same time, it allows the side switch as awhole to slip into its second position in a' manner well understood.Referring now to said side switch, the pole numbered.30 there- I 15 ofis in its second position, making connection through 57 with 55, andhencewith the private magnet 32. Pole numbered 31 in its second positionmakes connection with the ground side of the battery 24 through wire 12c58 and wire 59, the latter being connected through the interrupterspring 60 with the rotary magnet 37. As is wellknown, the armature 61 ofthis'rotary magnet 37 is so arranged that whenever it is pulled. down,it 12 5 breaks the circuit of the-magnet in ,the manher of an ordinaryvibrating bell, Every time the armature is pulled. down, however, itcauses the 'wipers to -rotate one position. Consequently,whenevertheside switch is sea-004 pleted through the battery, and ,thesaid magnet and thewipers will continue to rotatepas long as said sideswitch is left in that position; As soon, however, as wiper, makescontact with aline that is not grounded, thecircuit through the privatemagnet 32 is broken, and 'theside. switch slips from the second positioninto' the third, thereby, also breaking the circuit of the rotary magnet37, l

and stopping therotary motion ofthe wipers.

Referring to theside switch now in its third position, thatis-in thepositionit, holds after the first selector hasdone the Work, thevertical linen is connected through pole 28 of: said sideswitch, andline wiper 3,3 with a trunk line 62, leading to the second selector B;The connection of the line '0. is therefore ,completelybroken from therelay 39 of the ,first'selector, and in the same manner the rotary linerfrom the calling-station connects through 29 ot the side switch andline'wiper 34 'with atrunk line 63 leading to the same second selector, relaybeing in like manner out outof the rotary hne, audits connectionwlth'the calling instrument. The operation of'the second selector isvery similar to that of the first, the only difference being that itisnotsupplied with a cutout relay corresponding to the relay 42, therelays corresponding to the relays39 and 45 being connected directlywith the main side of the bat tery. These relays, which are desi natedrespectively 64 and 65 are provided with extra springs 66 and 67, soadjusted that they will-not make contact with either one of thearmatures pulled dowmbut do make contact trunk line6.3 to the secondpole of the second when both armatures are operated at the same time.The wipers of this second selector are designated respectively 68, 69and 70. As-already stated, this second selectoroperates in the samemanner as the first selector ustdescnbed, and consequently when "animpulse is given by the calling device after the first selector hasoperated, such im pulsevwill' pass overthe vertical line '0,

through side switch 28, the line Wiper 33, the trunk 62 to the sideswitch ofthe second selector B, and its'relay-l64, causing it to operate in the same manner as the first selector.

Having thus operated, the trunk line 62 is connected with the line wiper68 of the sec ond selector, and-thereby with a trunk line 71 leading tothe connector C. In the same manner, the rotary line 7" of the callingstation is connected throughthe side switch 29 oft-he first selector,the line wiper 34 and the selector side switch, and thereby through theWiper 69' with the trunl; line 72, leading to the connector C.- a ,1,

. As is well known, the connector differs from the first selector, andsecond selector in that it does 'not rotate automatically, but is causedto rotate step by step with the calhng device. It will be noted that thetrunk lines 71 and 72 do not connect with the line relays 23 and 74through side switches, as in the case of the first and second'selectors,but are connected directly thereto,fthe first and second poles 75 and 76of.- the side switch being impulse is givenbythe calling device afterthe operation of the first and second selectors, it passes over thetrunk line 71 to the vertical relay 23. This'ic'loses the contact,springs 79 and 80, 80 being connected directly to the ground side of thebattery 24. 79 is furthermore connected with the private armature spring81 and from there through lines 82 and pole 83, whichis in its firstposi tion, mal-iing contact with the vertical mag net 8'4. An impulseover, the vertical line when the connector is in the normal positionwill therefore cause'the shaft to move step by step in the same manneras the shaft of the first selector] When the required number of impulsesare'given over the vertical line, the impulses that pass over the rotaryline will in the same manner pass through trunk 72 to relay74 of theconnector. This causes spring 85 to connect with ground spring 80 Whenthe circuit through private magnet 86 is comconnected to, thelines 7land 72 through two condensers 7 7 and 7 8.. hen therefore an pleted,causing the-armature 87 thereof tobe 5 pulled down, andthereby allowingthe sideswitch to slip into its. second position, as already describedin'connection with the first selector. When the side switch is in saidsecond position, the circuit is broken with the vertical magnet 84,andinstead bonnected through wire 88 with the rotary magnet 89, whenceonthe next vertical impulse'given to the line, the closing, of'thecircuit by. springs 79 and 80 of relay 73 will cause an impulse to begiven to rotary magnet 89, causing the shaft carrying the wipers torotate step by step. Thenext impulse overthe rotary lineagain closes thecircuit of private magnet 86,

and allows the side switch to slip intoits third position, thereby.breaking all contact with the vertical and rotary magnets of the switch.

Referring now to the side switch 75 of 'theconnector, it is found to beconnected through the condenser 77 with the vertical trunk line 71. Thisside' switch 75 is also now connected hythe wire 90 with the spring 15,of theiringing relay 19, and wire 14 to the wiper 3 of the'connector O,which is the corresponding wiper in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The side switch 76 is, as already stated, connected to the rotary trunkline 72. through condenser 78, and now being in its third position, is;connected through Wire 91 with wiper 4 'The third pole 92 of the sideswitch of the connector being in its third position,.is' connectedthrough wire 93, andwire'dfi'with the ground side of the battery; 24,thereby grounding Wire 94, and wiper95 of connector.

&

This also grounds the cut out relay-'96 of the first selector of thecalled subscriber, which separates the contact springs thereof thatconnect the main battery with the relays 97 and 98. Again the fourthpole 83 of the side switch of the connector, being in its thirdposition, connects wire 82 with wire 99 to ringing relay 19, which isconnected with the main side of the battery.

As a consequence, alter the selection is completed, an impulse over thevertical line will cause the relay 2% to connect the spring 79 and 80,thereby closing ie circuit of the ringing relay through spring 51; wire82, switch 83, and wire 99. When the armature 20 of relay 19 is pulleddown, it connects wire 1% with the generator, which sends the ringingcurrent through wiper 3, normal wire 12, line wire 6, rin" g the cell atstation E in the manner (.les rlhed in enmec-ionwiih Fig. '1 of thedrawings. It will be noticed tha ringing currentcannot in any mannerallect the first selector G oi the called subscriber, as

the relays of such selector are disconnected from the line by cut of?relay 96. other member of the two party line is called, the wipers 8, 4and 95 will then engage the contacts which are bri d in reverse order,so that a ringing current will then go over the other line wire 5, andthrough the other hell 7 of the station D. it will thus be noted thatafter the selection is completed, the circuit is i the same asrepresented in Fig. 1.

A modification, and probably the preferred embodiment of the invention,is illustrated in Fig. 2. Since each section of the ordinary Strewgerswitchboard is made up 01 one hundred selectors and there are onehundred contacts for the connector switches, the most convenient methodof bridging two wires to a line perhaps by connecting the correspondingcontacts of two difl'erent sections. "rhus, in Fig. 2, A designates aconnector switch that connects with one series of lines, numbered, say,from 1199 to 1300, and includes banks of contacts 1 and 2, with whichthe wipers 3 and 4 (300p81'11t(3; Another connector switch B connectswith another series of lines, numbered, say, 1299 to 1400 and includescontacts 1 and-2 with which the wipers 3 and 4 co-operate. A part-y'lineis shown as composed of. wires 5 and 6, on which are located thestations C and 1), respectively designated 1201 and .1301, and havinghells 7 and 8*. Each of the bells is connected to one line wire only andis grounded, as illustrated at 9*. Now the iirst contacts 1 and 2 arerespectively connected to the line wires 5 and 6 by the wires 11 and 12,while the corresponding contacts 1 and 2 of the other connector switchare respectively connected in a reverse manner by the wires 13* and 14-to the wires 6 and 5".

A ringing current generator is shown at If the wires 17 eluding twowires, of party signals,

15 the switches 15 of which are'connected respectively with the wipers 3and 3* by the Associated with the connector switches are the usualringing relays 16 and 16 The wipers of a second selector switch areillustrated at 17 and 18 the same being movable into coaction with thecontacts 19 and 20 of the connector switch A, and the contacts 19* and20 of the connector switch B. v A calling station E, having a signalbutton 21 is shown as connected by the wires 1* and a through a firstselector switch F to the second selector switch. If, now, the station Ecalls C or 1201, the wipers 17 18 oi the second selector switch willassume the relation shown, and the wipers 3 and 4 of the connectorswitch A will con nect with the line wires 5 and 6, so that a signalfrom the calling station will cause the current from the generator 15 topass through the line 11 and thence through the hell 7 11, however,station D or 1301v is called, the wipers 1718 will contactwith 19* and20", while the wipers 3 and 4* will respectively engage the contacts 1and 2", with which the line wires 5 and 6 are connected.

ringingrelay 16 will operate to throw the generator 15 into circuitwit-lithe line 6,

and thus the bell 8 will be rung. It will be 1 observed that thisarrangement has all the advantages and is directly along the lines'ofthe first-described embodiment, for in this form also the usual wipersare made-to carry the ringing current to either wire and but one ringingrelay is necessary for each con-- 1 nector and all the lines associatedtherewith.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of Lhe herein described invention will be apparent tothose-skilled in the art, without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size,shape,

proportion, and minor details of construction may be'resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention.

Having thus described our invention what we cl aim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an automatic telephone exchange system, the combination with aparty line including two wires, (.f party signals, each of which isconnected to one only cf the wires, ringing current-generating means,and lineselecting mechanism including wipers cennecting the generatingmeans to either of the wires (.f the said party line -and crnstitutingpart of the ringing current carrying means between the generating meansand the signals.

2. In an automatic telephone exchange system, the combination with aparty line ineach. of

'l herefore, upon the operation of the signal button of the callingstation, the

' the line ,wires; v p, 54. In an automatic telephone exchange 25- whichis connected to said respectively to the wires, ringingcurrentline-sclecting mec dne onlyfjoflthe wires, ringingcurrent-generating means, line -se lecting mechanism including contactsbridged to the wires of the party line, and wipers cooperating with thecontacts and having .connections with the generating means toelectrically connect the same to either wire of party line, said wipersconstituting part of the means for carrying the ringing current from thegenerating means to the signals.

3. In an automatic telephone exchange system, the combination witha'party line inc uding two wires, of party signals connected generatingmeans, line-selecting mechanism including banks of contacts, certain ofsaid contacts being bridged to the wires of said party line, wlpersoperating over said con tacts, and connections between the wipers andcurrentenerating means to cause the connection 0 the latter to-eitherwire of the line, said connections being independent of system, thecombination with a plurality of llnes including a party line having twowires, of partysi als, each of which is connected to one of t e wiresand is grounded, ringing current-generating means also grounded,

nanism including contacts, i

wipers operating thereover, bridge connections between certain of thecontacts and the different wires of the party'line, and electricalconnections between the generating means I and the wipers that engagethe bridged contacts, said connections the line wires.

5. In an automatic telephone exchange system, the combination with aplurality of lines including a party line having two wires, of partysignals, each of which is connected to 'one only of the wires,line-selecting mechanism including switches that cooperate with thedifferent lines, ringing current-generating means electrically connectedto the selecting mechanism, and bridging connections between the partyline wires and the connector switches, whereby the generating means maybe electrically connected to either wire independently of the other.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our, own, wehave heretoaflixed our signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WICKS. DONALD D. MQKAY.

being separate from Witnesses:

A. WAGNER, A. F. SNIDER.

selector and connector

